The keys of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word…The keyes of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word…

1. The promise of Binding and Loosing, in way of Discipline, which Christ gave to every particular church (as hath been showed) is by this means not received, nor enjoined, nor practised by themselves immediately, but by their Deputies or Over-seers.

1. The promise of Binding and Loosing, in way of Discipline, which Christ gave to every particular church (as hath been shewed) is by this means not received, nor injoyned, nor practised by themselves immediately, but by their Deputies or Over-seers.

2. The same promise which was not given to Synods in acts of that nature (as hath been showed in the Chapter of Synods) but in acts of another kind, is hereby received, and enjoined, and practised by them, and by them only, which ought not to be.

2. The same promise which was not given to Synods in acts of that nature (as hath been shewed in the Chapter of Synods) but in acts of another kinde, is hereby received, and injoyned, and practised by them, and by them onely, which ought not to be.

And which is a third inconvenience, The practice of this power of the keys only by a Synod of Presbyters, still keepeth the Church as under nonage, as if they were not grown up to the full fruition of the just liberty of their riper years in the days of the Gospel. For a mother to bear her young daughter in her arms, and not to suffer it to go on its own feet, whilst it is in the infancy, is kindly and comely: but when the Damosel is grown up to riper years, for the mother still to bear her in her arms, for fear of stumbling, it were an unnecessary burden to the mother, and a reproach to the Virgin; Such is the case here: The community of churches (according to the Hebrew phrase) is as the Mother; each particular church is as the Daughter. In the old Testament, while the Church was in her nonage, it was not unseasonable to leave the whole guidance and bearing thereof in the hands of their Tutors and Governors, the Priests and Levites, and in the community of the national courts. But now in the days of the new Testament, when the churches are grown up (or should be grown at least) to more maturity, it were meet more to give the Church liberty to stand alone, and to walk upon her own legs; and yet in any such part of her way, as may be more hard to hit right upon, as in her Elections, and Ordinances, and Censures of eminent persons,